In the fall or spring of each school year, each of the consortium school districts (Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Wrangell, Metlakatla, and SE Island) may send up to ten students for a ten-day program on Sea Island, our floating marine station. The curriculum includes the following categories: marine biology and environmental science, cultural and historical projects, wilderness skills, group skills, and life skills (see specifics below).

The summer FLOAT expedition incorporates learning into a month-long expedition. Students embark from SEA Island on an exploratory trip which takes them into the mountains and villages of British Columbia, down the Stikine River, and along the coast of Southeast Alaska. This intensive program allows for an even more sustained hands-on learning experience. The geographic breadth of the curriculum includes the study of volcanic geology, fish biology and Native cultures of the Interior. Eligibility criteria are identical to those for the regular FLOAT School programs, but students from different school districts attend together in one group. Students who have been to the 10-day FLOAT School during the school year may also attend the summer program although it is not a pre-requisite.

Life Skills

During the 10-day experience the students will be expected to participate in the day-to-day support of SEA Island. This will include preparing, cooking, and cleaning up from all meals. The participants will also be expected to properly care for their personal belongings and those of the program. SEA Island will comfortably house 15 people as long as each person does their part to ensure the smooth and organized running of the facility.

Group Building

Living on SEA Island with many other people can be a great deal of fun, and throughout the 10-day experience, the students will participate in a number of activities that are designed for just that. The camaraderie between students, along with program activities will develop problem solving skills, communication techniques, and group building processes that build group cohesion and teach group living skills.

Wilderness Skills

Canoeing, navigation, route planning, menu planning, and survival techniques all fit into this category. On day 2 of the program, the students will learn how to successfully paddle a canoe in an ocean environment. These skills will be used throughout the 10-day experience as the students use the canoes as their primary mode of transportation to explore the marine environment. On the overnight experience students put to understand principles of navigation, route planning, menu planning, and survival techniques as they are responsible for both the planning and implementation of their plan under the guidance of our staff.

In addition to these skills, the students will learn basics of marine safety and first aid.

Recreation Time

Throughout the 10-day experience, students will engage in a number of recreation-based programs. These will include fishing, organized games, canoeing, and opportunities for exploration. In addition, a movie night is included in the program plan. All of these experiences allow for an opportunity to unwind and enjoy a sense of community within the group.

Field Book

At the completion of the 10-day experience students will have completed a field book which will in part document their experience. This will include photos, written documentation, drawings, observations, and creative writing about the experience. In addition to the field book, the participants will be asked to develop a presentation to share with their fellow students at the end of the program. Participants will be strongly urged to share both their field book and their presentation with their teachers and their class.

Weather and Tides Study

Students will learn about what causes weather and the forces at play in the sea and sky around them. They will learn to document their observations and will share these with NOAA throughout the 10-day experience. Students will also examine how currents and tides impact the ocean environment and will do a number of activities surrounding these processes.

Salinity Study

Students will make their own hydrometers to determine the salinity of the water surrounding SEA Island. They will compare this with the density and salinity of fresh water also located near SEA Island. Students will determine the percent salinity in their water samples and will begin to explore the impact of both density and salinity on the creatures that dwell in the ocean environment.

Food Chain Study

Students will explore the concept of food chains with a specific focus on the role plankton plays within the ocean ecosystem. Students will use plankton nets and canoes to collect samples of plankton. These samples will be examined under a microscope to identify the different forms (zooplankton and phytoplankton).

Adaptation Study

Students will determine the importance of adaptation for plants and animals specifically within the ocean environment. They will discuss how different organisms are suited to their environment and the specific adaptations that enable this. Students will explore this concept further when they dissect various intertidal organisms to examine both form and function.

Nocturnal Study

Students will examine the night environment using Night Vision technology to discover nocturnal animals. They will document any of their findings in their field notes. Students will begin to understand how different animals use the night to their advantage and perhaps better understand how animals see at night. This hands-on activity will better enable students to gain a sense of understanding about the nighttime environment.

Ecosystem Study

This study will focus on both the intertidal zone and the forest. Students will explore the intertidal zone and collect specimens to study. These specimens will be stored in our salt-water aquarium to examine throughout the experience. The focus of the study will include both flora and fauna and the students will document the different life forms found in this area. The adaptations of the different life forms will be examined and discussed.

Homework Time

Students will be provided with designated homework time to complete any homework given to them from their regular school teachers. This time will be supervised by an Alaska Certified teacher. There is a homework log for teachers to fill out to better ensure that homework expectations are being met.

Journal Time

Each day the participants will be provided with half an hour to reflect on their day and write down their thoughts during a structured journal time. Specific topics will be provided and the students are encouraged to hand this into their school after the program’s completion.

Lesson in a Bread Box (student presentations)

At the beginning of the program, the students will be introduced to the idea that they will be responsible for presenting a five-minute lesson plan on a subject of their choice in an area of their interest.

Cultural and Historical Projects

Throughout the 10-day experience, the students will engage in a number of activities that will focus on human history and culture. These activities are explained below.

• Paddle Making
• Each student will be provided with a canoe paddle blank for which to carve into a working finished paddle. The students will explore the historical and practical uses for the design of the paddle while exercising their own individual creativity.
• Drumming
• An evening session of drumming will be led by Winston Davies, who is of Tlingit descent. Winston has played a major role in preserving his native culture by drumming with youth in Southeast Alaska.